Freezing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A freezing apparatus comprises a cooling hollow body to receive food products to be frozen thereon and to be driven for rotation, a flexible container made of a flexible sheet material which is arranged on the upper surface of the cooling hollow body so as to cover said products placed on said upper surface, a cold brine circulating path including the hollow portion of the cooling hollow body and the interior of the flexible container which are mutually communicated to feed cold brine, a plurality of adapters attached to the outer periphery of the flexible container, and a guide rail provided around the outer periphery of the flexible container to slidably support the adapters. The flexible container is moved synchronously with the cooling hollow body due to a frictional force resulted between the flexible container and the cooling hollow body.

The present invention relates to a rotary type freezing apparatuscapable of rapidly cooling or freezing in a continuous manner productssuch as food to be frozen from their entire surface.

FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional freezing apparatusdisclosed in, for instance, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.60166/1984 and FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line A--Ain FIG. 28.

In FIGS. 28 and 29, a reference numeral 1 designates a lower beltconveyor composed of a driving pulley 1a, a tension pulley 1b and anendless steel belt 1c wound around the pulleys 1a, 1b; a numeral 2designates a brine tank placed underneath the upper portion of theendless steel belt 1c; a numeral 2a designates cold brine received inthe brine tank 2; a numeral 3 designates an upper belt conveyor arrangedabove the lower belt conveyor 1. The upper belt conveyor is composed ofa driving pulley 3a, a tension pulley 3b and a flexible endless belt 3cmade of a flexible sheet material which is wound around the pulleys 3a,3b. The flexible sheet belt 3c provides a cold brine receiving portionat the upper surface in its lower belt portion and cold brine 4 issupplied to the cold brine receiving portion. A numeral 5 designatesproducts to be frozen such as food (hereinbelow, referred to as foodproducts) which are to be sequentially supplied between the steel belt1c and the flexible sheet belt 3c, and a numeral 6 designates aheat-insulating tunnel which provides a freezing zone 7 through whichthe food products 5 are linearly passed by means of the steel belt 1cand the flexible sheet belt 3c.

The operation of the conventional freezing apparatus will be described.The upper and lower belt conveyors 1, 3 are driven in a synchronousmanner. The food products 5 are supplied between the steel belt 1c andthe flexible sheet belt 3c from one end of the conveyors, and the foodproducts 5 are linearly carried while they are interposed between thesteel belt 1c and the flexible sheet belt 3c. During the carrying step,the lower surface of the food products 5 is directly cooled by the steelbelt 1c which is previously cooled by the lower cold brine 2a, and theother surface of the food products 5 is directly cooled by the flexiblesheet belt 3c which covers the upper portion of the products 5. Theflexible sheet belt 3c is deformable in accordance with the shape of thefood products 5 and cooled by the upper cold brine 4. Then, the foodproducts are sequentially passed through the freezing zone 7 by means ofthe steel belt 1c and the flexible sheet belt 3c and finally, they aretaken from the other end of the conveyors.

The conventional freeing apparatus have the following disadvantages.Namely, the belt conveyors 1, 3 do not allow the movement of the foodproducts 5 other than the linear movement; a space for the drivingpulleys and the tension pulleys occupies a relatively large in thefreezing zone (when a small quantity of the food products is to betreated, a longer freezing zone is unnecessary), whereby it occupies arelatively large space for installation of the apparatus, and separateworking areas are needed for supplying and taking-out of the foodproducts.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a freezing apparatuscapable of continuously cooling with good effeciency food products fromtheir entire surface while the products are circularly transferred, andmaking the entire construction to be simple, light and compact.

The foregoing and the other objects of the present invention have beenattained by providing a freezing apparatus which comprises;

a cooling hollow body adapted to receive thereon products to be frozenand adapted to be driven for rotation;

a flexible container made of a flexible sheet material which is arrangedon the upper surface of the cooling hollow body so as to cover theproducts placed on the upper surface;

a cold brine circulating path including the hollow portion of thecooling hollow body and the interior of the flexible container which aremutually communicated to feed cold brine;

an adapter means comprising a plurality of adapters which are attachedto the outer periphery of the flexible container; and

a guide means provided around the outer periphery of the flexiblecontainer to slidably support the adapters, whereby the flexiblecontainer is moved synchronously with the cooling hollow body due to africtional force resulted between the flexible container and the coolinghollow body.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an embodiment of thefreezing apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the freezing apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view partly broken of the freezing apparatus shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plane view partly broken of the freezing apparatus shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is another embodiment of the freezing apparatus according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line VI--VI of theapparatus shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a flexible containerand a fitting means used for the freezing apparatus of the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of another embodiment ofthe freezing apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a plane view partly broken of the freezing apparatus shown inFIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a side view showing an embodiment of an integration means forthe upper and lower portions of the flexible container according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 11 is a plane view partly broken of the integration means;

FIG. 12 is a diagram of an embodiment of a cold brine circulatingcircuit for the freezing apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing anotherembodiment of the freezing apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a plane view partly broken of an embodiment of the a coolinghollow body for the freezing apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line V--V in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line VII--VII in FIG.14;

FIG. 17 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of another embodiment ofthe freezing apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a transverse cross-sectional view of an embodiment of thecooling hollow body of the present invention;

FIGS. 19-21 are respectively enlarged cross-sectional view showing aportion A in FIG. 18 in detail respectively;

FIG. 22 is a transverse cross-sectional view of another embodiment ofthe cooling hollow body of the present invention;

FIG. 23 is a plane view of an embodiment of the lower sheet portion ofthe flexible container of the present invention;

FIG. 24 is a plane view showing the upper sheet portion of the flexiblecontainer of the present invention;

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view partly broken of the flexiblecontainer of the present invention;

FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view showing a state that the lower sheetportion is joined to the upper sheet portion in the flexible containeraccording to the present invention;

FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view showing a joint portion as shown inFIG. 26 in detail;

FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional freezing apparatus;and

FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line A--A in FIG. 28.

In the following, preferred embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed with reference to the drawings.

In FIGS. 1-4 showing a first embodiment of the freezing apparatusaccording to the present invention, a reference numeral 10 designates abase for supporting the freezing apparatus of the present invention;

a numeral 11 designates a horizontal upper frame for separating theinterior of the base 10 into upper and lower chambers, a numeral 12designates a lower frame provided in the base, a numeral 13 designates abrine tank placed on the lower frame 12, a numeral 14 designates anoutlet port formed in the brine tank 13, a numeral 16 designates a pumpto which a brine pipe 15 is connected, a numeral 17 designates a motorfor driving the pump 16, a numeral 18 designates a brine ejecting pipewhose one end is connected to the discharge side of the pump 16, anumeral 19 designates a brine cooling device having its suction side towhich the other end of the brine ejecting pipe 18 is connected, and anumeral 20 designates a cold brine supplying pipe connected to thedischarge side of the brine cooling device 19.

In this embodiment, the brine tank 13, the brine pipe 15, the pump 16,the motor 17, the brine ejecting pipe 18, the brine cooling device 19and the cold brine supplying pipe 20 constitute a brine supplying means21.

A cooling hollow body 22 comprises a flat-shaped rotatable brine vessel23 with its top surface opened and a cooling plate 24 attached to thevessel 23 to close the upper open top of the rotatable brine vessel 23.A driving hollow rotary shaft 25 is fixed to the central portion of thecooling plate 24. A flange 25a is formed integrally with the upper partof the driving rotary shaft 25. A cold brine feeding path 26 in anannular form is formed at the outer periphery of the lower portion ofthe driving rotary shaft 25. A cold brine conduit 27 is formed in thedriving rotary shaft 25. The conduit 27 comprises a vertical conduit 27acommunicated with the cold brine feeding path 26 and extending in theaxial direction of the shaft 25, a lateral conduit 27b communicated withthe vertical conduit 27a and also communicated with an opening 24a as anintroducing port formed in the cooling hollow body 22, and anotherlateral conduit 27c communicated with an opening 24b as a dischargingport which is formed in the cooling hollow body 22 at a positionopposing the opening 24a as the introducing port.

A bearing 28 is fixed to the upper frame 11 to support the drivingrotary shaft 25 in a freely rotatable manner. In this embodiment, thebearing 28 comprises an upper bearing housing 29, an intermediatebearing housing 30 and a lower bearing housing 31 all of which aresplittable in the axial direction. These bearing housings 29-31 can beassembled by means of bolts so that they are detachably connected witheach other. The upper bearing housing 29 is fixed to the upper frame 11.

A numeral 32 designates a first sealing member for sealing the slidingsurfaces between the lower part of the wall forming the lateral conduit27b of the driving rotary shaft 25 and the upper bearing housing 29, anumeral 33 designates a second sealing member for sealing theintermediate bearing housing 30 to the lower bearing housing 31, and anumeral 35 designates third sealing members for sealing the lowerbearing housing 31 to the driving rotary shaft 25. A reference numeral36 designates a sprocket constituting a rotation-driving system which isdetachably fitted to the lower part of the driving rotary shaft 25 bymeans of bolts, and it is driven by a driving means (not shown).

A cold brine inlet 37 is formed in the intermediate bearing housing 30,and the inlet 37 is connected to the cold brine supplying pipe 20 tofeed cold brine into the cold brine feeding path 26.

A plurality of guide rollers are arranged in an annular form with afixed intervals on the upper frame 11 so that the lower part of theouter periphery of the cooling hollow body 22 is rotatably supported. Aplurality of supporting members 39 having a ]-shape in cross section arearranged with fixed intervals on the top of the driving rotary shaft 25.Circular sheet-fitting plates 40a, 40b are respectively attached to theupper ends and the lower ends of the supporting members 39. Thesupporting members 39 and the circular sheet-fitting plates 40a, 40b maybe formed in one piece.

A reference numeral 41 designates a flexible container formed by aflexible sheet material which is arranged on and in contact with thecooling plate 24 of the cooling hollow body 22. The flexible container41 may be formed by two sheet materials, i.e. the upper and lower sheetportions 41a, 41b, or may be formed by a annular tube. In the embodimentshown in FIG. 1, the inner circular edge of the upper sheet portion 41ais attached to the upper sheet-fitting plate 40a through a fitting piece40d and the inner circular edge of the lower sheet portion 41b isattached to the lower sheet-fitting plate 40b through a fitting piece40c in sealing condition respectively (FIG. 7). The outer circular edgesof the upper and lower sheet portions are air-tightly joined together. Aplurality of adapters 43 are fixed to the outer circular edge at apredetermined distance.

In the cooling hollow body 22, the inner diameter side of the rotatablebrine vessel 23 is connected to the horizontally projecting flange 25aof the driving rotary shaft 25, and the lower fitting plate 40b isconnected to the upper end surface of the driving rotary shaft 25. Atthe outer circumferential edge portion of the flexible container 41, aplurality of adapters comprising a deformable fitting frame in anannular form and a pair of rollers 43a held by the fitting frame atpredetermined distances, are attached; preferably they are at an equaldistance. An annular guide rail 44 is provided on the base 10 so as tomovably support the adapters. A numeral 45 designates a plurality ofsupporting members for supporting the guide rail 44. At least one of thesupporting members is provided at or near the inlet of the freezingapparatus 10, through which food products are supplied, is adapted to bemoved vertically to raise the flexible guide rail 44 at a predeterminedposition. Namely, such supporting member functions as a lifter 45b.

A numeral 46 designates a food product supplying/removing port formedbetween the cooling plate 24 and the flexible container 41, the portbeing obtained by lifting the flexible guide rail 44 by the lifter 45b.A cold brine supplying pipe 47 which communicates the lateral conduit27c of the cold brine conduit 27 with the inside of the flexiblecontainer 41 is placed near the central portion of the sheet-fittingplate 40b. The cold brine supplying pipe 47 is preferably bent at anangle of 20°-45° so as to extend outwardly from the central portion ofthe flexible container 41.

An over-flow tube 48 is inserted in the upper opening part of thedriving rotary shaft 25 to communicate the hollow portion of the shaft25 with the inside of the flexible container 41. A liquid surface leveladjusting means 49 is fitted to the upper sheet-fitting 40a toadjustably support the over-flow tube 48. In this embodiment, theadjusting means 49 comprises a handle and a screw rod which allow toascend and descend the over-flow tube 48 by turning the handle.

A numeral 50 designates a cold brine passage formed between the outercircumferential surface of the lower part of over-flow tube 48 and theinner pheriphery of the sheet-fitting plate 40b, a numeral 51 designatesa cold brine returning tube connected to the lower end of the drivingrotary shaft 25 to communicate the hollow portion of the shaft 25 withthe brine tank 13, and numerals 52 designate products such as food to befrozen (hereinbelow, referred to as food products) placed on the coolingplate 24.

The operation of the freezing apparatus according to the embodiment ofthe present invention will be described.

When the pump 16 is actuated, the cold brine in the brine tank 13 issucked into the brine pipe 15. The cold brine is passed through thebrine ejecting pipe 18 into the brine cooling device 19 where it iscooled, and then, the cold brine is supplied into the cold brine feedingpath 26 through the cold brine supplying pipe 20 and the cold brineinlet 37. The cold brine in the feeding path 26 is supplied to thecooling hollow body 22 through the vertical conduit 27a and the lateralconduit 27b of the cold brine conduit 27 and the opening 24a. Also, thecold brine is supplied to the flexible container 41 through the opening24b, the lateral conduit 27c and the cold brine supplying pipe 47. Thecold brine in the flexible container 41 is maintained at a constantliquid level by means of the over-flow tube 48. Under the condition thatthe level of the cold brine is maintained by the over-flow tube 48, apart of the cold brine in the flexible container 41 flows in the hollowportion of the driving rotary shaft 45 through the cold brine passage50. The cold brine falling through the passage 50 and a part of the coldbrine flown in the over-flow tube 48 as over-flowing liquid arecollected in the hollow portion of the shaft 25, whereby the collectedcold brine is returned to the brine tank 13 through the brine returningtube 51. Thus, by circulating the cold brine from the brine tank 13through the cooling hollow body 22 and the flexible container 41, thecooling plate 24 of the cooling hollow body 22 and the flexiblecontainer 41 are cooled.

Under the condition, when the cooling hollow body 22 is rotated, theflexible container 41 is subjected to a force to rotate it due to africtional force caused between the cooling plate 24 and the lowerportion of the container 41.

Since the rollers 43a are held in the adapters, which are fixed to theouter peripheral portion of the flexible container 41, so as to be ableto roll on the guide rail 44, and a part of the outer peripheral portionof the flexible container can be lifted in compliance with the liftedportion of the guide rail 44, there is provided the food productsupplying/removing port 46. When the food products 52 are placed on thecooling plate 24, they are transferred around the rotary shaft 25 on thecooling plate 24 in synchronism therewith. Then, they are wrapped by theflexible container 41 in contact with and on the cooling plate 24,whereby the lower portion of the food products 52 is cooled by thecooling plate 24 and the upper part and the side parts of the products52 are cooled by the flexible container 41. During at least one turn ofthe cooling hollow body, the feed products are sufficiently frozen andthey are taken out from the food product supplying/removing port 46.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show another embodiment of the present invention. In FIGS.5 and 6, a reference numeral 101 designates a circular cooling plateextending horizontally, a numeral 102 designates a brine tank placedunder the cooling plate 101 horizontally, a numeral 104 designates abrine receiver covering the outside and the lower portion of the brinetank 102, a numeral 103 designates a plurality of brine feeding tubesfor introducing cold brine 105 as a cooling medium to the brine tank102, and a numeral 106 designates a flexible container made of aflexible sheet material. The flexible container 106 is held in a U-shapeby means of a guide frame and adapters, which are described in detailbelow, so that the lower surface of the flexible container 106 is incontact with the upper surface of the cooling plate 101 and the coldbrine 105 as the cooling medium is supplied in the U-shaped flexiblecontainer 106.

The guide frame 108 having a double-ring structure as co-axiallyarranged guide rails which are disposed above the brine tank 102horizontally. A plurality of adapters (in this embodiment, each twelveadapters are held by each of the guide rails) are attached to the innerand outer peripheries of the U-shaped flexible containers 106 atsubstantially equal distances. Thus, the adapters constitute a sheetholder.

A numeral 109 designates supporters each of which supports each of theguide rails 108 horizontally, a numeral 110 designates a brineintroducing pipe for supplying the cold brine 105 in the flexiblecontainer 106, a numeral 111 designates a brine returning pipe forsucking the cold brine from the flexible container 106, a numeral 112designates a hollow shaft supporting the cooling plate 101, the brinetank 102 and the brine receiver 104 so as to be in a co-axial state, anumeral 113 designates a motor for driving the hollow shaft 112, anumeral 114 designates a gear wheel attached to the driving shaft of themotor 113, a numeral 117 designates a gear wheel fixed to the shaft 112,and a numeral 116 designates a timing belt wound around the gear wheels114, 117.

Numerals 115 designate bearings for rotatably supporting the hollowshaft 112 in the vertical direction, a numeral 121 designates a secondbrine introducing pipe passing through the hollow shaft 112, a numeral122 designates a second brine returning pipe passing through the shaft112, a numeral 119 designates a third brine introducing pipe connectedto a heat exchanger 12b installed outside the freezing apparatus, anumeral 120 designates a third brine returning pipe connected to theheat exchanger 126, and a numeral 118 designates a rotary joint forconnecting the second brine introducing pipe 121 to the third brineintroducing pipe 119 and for connecting the second brine returning pipe122 to the third brine returning pipe 120. The second brine introducingpipe 121 is connected to the first brine introducing pipe 110, and thesecond brine returning pipe 122 is connected to the first brinereturning pipe 111. The brine feeding tubes 103 are connected to theintermediate portion of the second brine introducing pipe 121, and thelower end of the brine receiver 104 is connected to the intermediateportion of the second brine returning pipe 122.

A numeral 123 designates a food product supplying/removing port, anumeral 124 designates a casing covering the entire part of the freezingapparatus and having the ceiling to which the supporters 109 forsupporting the guide rails 108 are connected, and numerals 125 designatea number of rollers for supporting the bottom of the brine receiver 104.

Continuous freezing operation for the food products 52 effected by theembodiment of the freezing apparatus according to the present inventionas shown in FIG. 5 will be described.

The cold brine 105 sufficiently cooled by the heat exchanger 126 issupplied to the brine tank 102 through the first to third brineintroducing pipes 119, 121, 110, and on the other hand, it also suppliedto the flexible container 106 through the second and third brineintroducing pipes and brine feeding tubes 103.

During the supply of the cold brine 105 into the brine tank 102, anexcessive amount of the cold brine 105 overflows from the gap formedbetween the upper edge of the outer periphery of the brine tank 102 andthe cooling plate 101 to be recovered by the brine receiver 104. Then,the overflowed cold brine enters in the second brine returning pipe 122to be fed to the heat exchanger 12b through the rotary joint 118 and thethird brine returning pipe 120 by the action of a pump (not shown).Thus, the cold brine 105 is circulated between the brine tank 102 (theflexible container 106) and the heat exchanger 126, whereby the insidesof the brine tank 102 and the flexible container 106 are maintained at avery low temperature. During the circulation of the cold brine to coolthe cooling plate 101 and the flexible container 106, the motor 113 isactuated to rotate the driving shaft 112 through the gear wheels 114,117 and the timing belt 116. The rotation of the shaft 112 causes therotation of the cooling plate 101, the brine tank 102 and the brinereceiver 104 which are integrally attached to the shaft 112 in thedirection of the mark a in FIG. 6. The flexible container 106 held bythe adapters 107 and the guide rails 108 are urged to the cooling plate101 due to the weight of the cold brine 105. As a result, the flexiblecontainer 106 is also synchronously rotated in the direction as shown inFIG. 6 due to a frictional force between the cooling plate 101 and thelower surface of the flexible container 106. In this case, the secondbrine introducing pipe 121 and the second brine returning pipe 122 arerotated integrally with the shaft 112. However, the rotary joint 118 isinterposed between the second pipes 121, 122 and the third brineintroducing and returning pipes 119, 120, there is no trouble incirculating the cold brine 105 when the shaft 112 is rotated.

The food products 52 are sequentially put on the cooling plate 101 fromthe food product supplying/removing port 103. Then, the food products 52are sequentially wrapped by the flexible container 106 in associationwith the cooling plate 101 rotating in the direction of the arrow marka, whereby they are rapidly cooled or frozen from their entire surfaces.

In the above-mentioned embodiments, the food products are brought intodirect contact with the cooling means while they turns on the coolingplate in association with the flexible container rotating in synchronismwith the cooling plate, whereby the food products are effectively cooledor frozen.

According to the freezing apparatus of the above-mentioned embodiments,the size of the apparatus can be compact in comparison with theconventional linear transferring type feeding apparatus and it requiresa smaller space for installation. Further, in the freezing apparatus ofthe present invention, at least one guide rail is provided at the outercircumferential part of the flexible container, and adapters attached tothe flexible container are supported by the guide rails in a slidablemanner. Accordingly, the flexible container is rotated in synchronismwith the cooling hollow body due to a frictional force resultedtherebetween. This structure simplifys a supporting structure for theflexible container and reduces weight.

Further, in the freezing apparatus of the above-mentioned embodiments, alifting means is provided to lift a pat of the guide rail along with theflexible container supported by the guide rail. Accordingly, an openingis formed between the flexible container and the cooling hollow body toallow putting on and removing from the food products from the opening.Since the flexible container can be moved by means of the slidableadapters and the guide rail, occurrence of wrinkles or twisting in theflexible container can be certainly avoided.

FIGS. 8 to 11 show another embodiment of the freezing apparatusaccording to the present invention. In FIGS. 8 to 11, the same referencenumerals designate the same or corresponding parts, and therefore,description of these parts is omitted.

A reference numeral 53 designates an integration means to rotate thelower portion and the upper portion of the flexible container 41together. The integration means 53 comprises four sets of bearings 54,each fixed on the upper surface of the upper sheet-fitting plate 40a, alever 56 each one end being pivotally supported by a pin 55 in each ofthe bearings 54 so as to be singable in the vertical direction and aspacer 57 attached to the other end of the lever 56. The adapters 43 areattached to the outer periphery of the flexible container 41 which isattached to the free end of the spacers 57 by means of bolts 58.

The freezing apparatus of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 to 11 operatesas follows.

When the cooling hollow body 22 is rotated, the flexible container 41 isalso rotated in synchronism with the cooling hollow body 22 due to africtional force caused between the lower sheet portion 41b of theflexible container 41 and the upper surface of the cooling plate 24. Theupper sheet portion 41a of the flexible container 41 is rotated togetherwith the lower sheet portion 41b by a rotating force supplied theretothrough the levers 54 and the upper sheet-fitting plate 40a which isattached to the dividing shaft 25. In the embodiment of the freezingapparatus having the construction as above-mentioned, there is providedthe integration means which causes the associated movement of the upperand lower sheet portions of the flexible container with the coolinghollow body, whereby occurrence of an excessive tension and an abnormalbending in the flexible container which may be caused by wrinkles ortwisting in the container are avoidable, and therefore, the flexiblecontainer is durable for a long term use.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a modification of the integration means 53.In FIG. 10, the same reference numerals as in FIGS. 8 and 9 designatethe same or corresponding parts. A lever 59 is supported at its one endby each of the bearings 54 so as to be singable in the verticaldirection. A spacer 60 is fitted to the intermediate part of the lever59. To the free end of the spacer 60, a roller fitting part of the outercircumferential part of the flexible container 41 is attached with abolt 61. An adapter 62 is secured to the free end of each of the levers59 so as to roll on and along the guide rail 44.

In the modified embodiment of the integration means 53, when the drivingshaft 25 is rotated, the flexible container 41 is rotated in synchronismwith the cooling plate 24 due to the frictional force resulted betweenthe lower sheet portion 41b of the container 21 and the cooling plate24, and at the same time, the upper sheet portion 41a is forced torotate together with the lower sheet portion 41b by a force applied bythe lever 59.

In this case, the adapters 62 provided at the free end of the levers 59move on the guide rail 44. In particular, at the portion of the guiderail 44 lifted, the outer circumferential portion of the flexiblecontainer 41 can be smoothly separated and lifted from the cooling plate24.

FIG. 11 shows a further embodiment of the integration means 53. In thisembodiment, a plurality of supporting members 63 are provided at theouter periphery of a roller fitting 42 which is in turn attached to theouter periphery of the flexible container 41. A flexible wire 64connects the free end of each of the supporting members 63. Accordingly,when the flexible container 41 rotates in synchronism with the coolingplate 24 due to the frictional force between the lower sheet portion 41band the cooling plate 24, the wire 64 restricts the deformation of theroller fitting 63 itself and change in the distance between thesupporting members 63. Accordingly, the upper sheet portion 41a of theflexible container 41 rotates along with the lower sheet portion 41b. Asa result, occurrence of wrinkles and twisting in the flexible containercan be minimized. In this embodiment, there is an advantage that a thinflexible sheet can be used for the flexible container to provide a largeeffect of cooling, in addition to the advantages described withreference to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 8 to 10.

FIG. 12 shows still another embodiment of the freezing apparatusaccording to the present invention.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 12 is in particular to prevent frosting andicing of the surface of the cooling hollow body and the flexiblecontainer owing to the cold brine remaining the inside of them when thefreezing apparatus is not in use.

In this embodiment of the present invention, a brine tank and a coldbrine supplying means are provided below a cooling hollow body on whicha flexible container is placed in contact with the upper surface of thecooling hollow body, and a cold brine discharging conduit is formed incommunication with the cooling hollow body and the interior of theflexible container, the conduit being adapted to feed the cold brineinto the brine tank.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 12 in which the same reference numeralsdesignate the same or corresponding parts, cold brine returning tube 51is provided at the lower end of the driving shaft 25 to communicate thehollow portion of the shaft 25 with the brine tank 13. A cold brinedischarging conduit BR is constituted by the cold brine returning tube51, a cold brine discharging port 25b and the cold brine passage 50formed between the circumferential surface of the over-flow tube and theinner periphery of the lower sheet-fitting plate 40b so that the coldbrine in the flexible container flows into the brine tank.

When the freezing apparatus is stopped its operation, the cold brine inthe flexible container 41 naturally falls through the cold brinedischarging conduit BR, i.e. the cold brine discharging port 50, thecold brine discharging port 25b and brine returning tube 51 to berecovered in the brine tank 13.

On the other hand, the cold brine remaining in the cooling hollow body22 naturally falls into the brine tank 13 through the cold brineintroducing port 24a, the lateral conduit 27b and the vertical conduit27a of the cold brine conduit 27, the cold brine feeding path 26, thecold brine inlet 37, the supplying tube 20, the cooling device 19, theejecting pipe 18, the pump 16, the suction pipe 15 and the outlet 14.Accordingly, the icing and frosting of the cooling hollow body andflexible container owing to the remaining cold brine can be certainlyprevented, whereby possible breakage of the flexible container and delayin the operation of the cooling hollow body which may cause when it isrestarted can be prevented.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show a separate embodiment of the freezing apparatusaccording to the present invention. In FIGS. 13, 14, the same referencenumerals as in FIG. 1 designate the same or corresponding parts, andtherefore, description of these parts is omitted.

A reference numeral 226 designates a plurality of cold brine introducingports formed at the inner diameter side of the bottom of the brine tank23, and a numeral 227 designates a plurality of cold brine dischargingports formed at the inner diameter side of the bottom of the brine tank23, the position of each of the discharging ports being in pointsymmetry with each of the introducing ports 226.

The cold brine conduit 27 is formed by the vertical conduit 27acommunicated with the cold brine feeding path 26 to extend in the axialdirection of the driving shaft 25, the lateral conduit 27b formed in thehorizontally projecting flange 25a to communicate the vertical conduit27a with the cooling hollow body 22 through the cold brine introducingport 226, and the lateral conduit 27c provided opposing the lateralconduit 27b communicating with the cooling hollow body 22 through thecold brine discharging port 227.

The bearing 28 fixed to the upper frame 11 to rotatably support thedriving shaft 25 comprises the upper bearing housing 29, theintermediate bearing housing 30 and the lower bearing housing 31 whcihare disconnectable in the axial direction.

The bearing housings 29-31 are detachably assembled in the same axialdirection by means of bolts. The upper bearing housing 29 is fixed tothe upper frame 11. Reference numerals 32, 33, 34 and 35 respectivelydesignate sealing members which are the same as that described withreference to FIG. 1. The driving shaft 25 is driven by the sprocket 36detachably fitted to the lower end of it by means of bolts, and thesprocket 36 is driven by a driving means (not shown). A cold brineintroducing port 37 is formed in the intermediate bearing housing 30 tofeed the cold brine into the cold brine feeding path 26 through the coldbrine supplying tube 20.

In the following, explanation will be made as to how the bearinghousings are disassembled for inspection and replacement of the sealingmembers.

First of all, the cold brine returning tube 51 attached to the lower endof the driving shaft 25 is removed downwardly by releasing a fasteningmeans which fixes the cold brine returning tube 51 to the flange 51a andthe driving shaft 25. In this case, the tube 51 falls toward the brinetank 13. However, there is no possibility that the tube 51 becomes incontact with the brine stored in the brine tank because the flange 51come to contact with the upper part of the brine tank 13. Then, thesprocket 36 is removed from the driving shaft 25. Thus, inspection ofthe hollow portion of the driving shaft 25 is allowed, and removal ofthe lower bearing housing 31 is also allowed. Then, the lower bearinghousing 31 is disconnected from the intermediate bearing housing 30.Thus, by lowering the lower bearing housing 31, it is possible toconduct inspection and replacement of the sealing members 34, 35. In thesame manner as described above, the intermediate housing 30 isdisconnected from the upper bearing housing 29. By lowering theintermediate bearing housing for removal, it is possible to conductinspection and replacement of the sealing member 33. Since theinspection and replacement of the sealing members 33-35 can be performedby merely lowering the sprocket 36, the lower and intermediate housings31, 30, such inspection and replacement can be easily carried out eventhough the space formed between the lower end of the driving shaft 25and the upper surface of the brine tank 13 is small.

FIGS. 17 to 21 show another embodiment of the present invention. InFIGS. 17 to 21, the same reference numerals as in FIGS. 1, 8 and 13designate the same or corresponding parts, and therefore, description ofthese parts is omitted.

A reference numeral 220 designates a plurality of separating plates fordefining the inside of the cooling hollow body 22 into a plurality ofsections. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the interior of thecooling hollow body 22 is divided into four sections.

Numerals 221 and 222 designate first and second flow-regulating plateswhich are radially, alternately arranged in the cooling hollow body 21with a predetermined distances. The first flow-regulating plates 221which are inwardly deflected are connected to the outer circumferentialwall portion 22a of the cooling hollow body 22, and the secondflow-regulating plates 222 which are outwardly deflected are connectedto the inner circumferential wall poriton 22b of the cooling hollow body22. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 18, arrangement of the first andsecond flow-regulating plates 221, 222 in the cooling hollow body 22 issuch that the second flow-regulating plates 222 are provided at bothsides of each of the separating plates 220 and each of the firstflow-regulating plates 221 is between the second flow-regulating plates222. An inner communicating portion 223 is formed between the innercircumferential wall portion 22b and the innermost end of each of thefirst flow-regulating plates 221. An outer communicating portion 224 isformed between the outer circumferential wall portion 22a and theoutermost end of each of the second flow-regulating plates 222. Thus, azig-zag flow path 225 is defined by the separating plates 220 and thefirst and second flow-regulating plates 221, 222. A plurality of coldbrine introducing ports 226 and cold brine discharging ports 227 areformed near the inner circumferential wall portion 22b and at both sidesof each of the separating plates 220. By-pass passages 228 are formed inthe first flow-regulating plates 221 at positions near the joiningportion between the outer circumferential wall portion 22a and the firstflow-regulating plates 221.

The by-pass passages 228 may be in a form of air gap formed between theouter circumferential wall portion 22a and the first flow-regulatingplates 221 as shown in FIG. 19; or they may be a circular through holesformed at the outer end of each of the first flow-regulating plates 221as shown in FIG. 20; or they may be cut portions formed at the lowerside at the outer end portion of each of the first flow-regulatingplates as shown in FIG. 21.

The operation of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 17 to 21 will bedescribed.

The cold brine supplied to the cold brine feeding path 26 is supplied tothe cooling hollow body 22 through the vertical conduit 27a and thelateral conduit 27b of the cold brine conduit 27 via the cod brineintroducing port 226. The cold brine in the cooling hollow body 22 flowsalong the cold brine zig-zag flow path 225 and at the same time, a partof the cold brine passes through the by-pass passages 228 in thedirection of the flow of the cold brine. Accordingly, there is nopossibility of stay of the cold brine at the corner portions formed bythe outer circumferential wall portion 22a and the outermost part of thefirst flow-regulating plates 221 and the cold brine flows in the zig-zagflow path 225 at a relatively large flow rate and flows to the lateralconduit 27c through the cold brine discharging port 227; thus, asubstantially uniform cold heat radiation is effected to the uppersurface of the cooling plate. The cold brine in the lateral conduit 27is then fed to the flexible container 41 through the cold brinesupplying tube 47.

FIG. 22 shows another embodiment of the cooling hollow body 22. In thisembodiment, the separating plates 220 as in FIG. 18 are omitted, and acold-brine zig-zag flow path 225 is formed by arranging the first andsecond flow-regulating paltes alternately in the cooling hollow body 22.A plurality of cold brine introducing ports 226 and cold brinedischarging ports 227 are formed in the cooling hollow body 22 atpositions near the innermost end of the first flow-regulating plates 221and on the line connecting the axial center of the cooling hollow body22 to the extension of the first flow-regulating plates 221.Accordingly, the cold brine introduced through the cold brineintroducing ports 226 is divided in a substantially uniform fashion atboth sides of each of the first flow-regulating plates 221 in thevicinity of the cold brine introducing ports 226, and each of thedivided streams of flow is forwarded to the cold brine discharging ports227. In this embodiment, the same effect of uniform cold heattransmission to the cooling plate can be effected in the same manner asthe embodiment shown in FIG. 18. Accordingly, the food products placedon the cooling hollow body 22 can be uniformly cooled.

FIGS. 23 to 27 show an embodiment of the flexible container used for thefreezing apparatus of the present invention.

In FIGS. 23 to 27, a reference numeral 410 designates the lower sheetportion of the flexible container 41 to be positioned in contact withthe cooling plate 24. The lower sheet portion 10 is formed as follows. Asheet material made of a fabric is cut into plural sheets of cloth 41having a sectrial shape to be used them as core materials 411 (FIG. 23and FIG. 27). The plural sheets of the cut cloth 411 are arranged in anannular form so that they have the same network, followed by connectingthem by sewing. The annular core material is covered by upper and lowerflexible sheet-like materials 413, 414 made of a thin material such assynthetic rubber.

A numeral 415 designates the upper sheet portion of the flexiblecontainer 41. The upper sheet portion 415 is prepared as follows. Asheet of cloth is cut into a semi circular-shaped cloth 416 (FIG. 24),and they are connected in one piece so that the network 417 of the twopieces of cloth is in the same direction in the same manner as the lowersheet portion 410. Then, the circular cloth is covered by upper andlower sheet-like elastic materials 418, 419 (FIG. 27). The upper sheetportion 415 may be in one piece as far as the network 417 is as a wholein the same direction.

A numerals 420 designates an outer reinforcing member provided at thelower surface of the outer circumferential portion of the lower sheetportion 410, and a numeral 421 designates an outer reinforcing memberprovided on the upper surface of the outer circumferential portion ofthe upper sheet portion 415, a numeral 422 designates a fastening meansto fasten the outer circumferential parts of the upper and lower sheetportions 410, 415 through the outer reinforcing members 420, 421, anumeral 423 designates an inner reinforcing member attached to the uppersurface of the inner circumferential portion of the lower sheet portion410, and a numeral 424 designates an inner reinforcing member attachedto the lower surface of the inner circumferential portion of the uppersheet portion 415.

Thus, the flexible container 41 is in an annular tube formed by theupper and lower sheet portions 410, 415 in which the upper sheet portion415 is sealingly connected to the upper sheet-fitting plate and thelower sheet portion 410 is sealingly connected to the lowersheet-fitting plate. The cooling hollow body 22 is connected to theflange 25a of the driving shaft 25 at its inner diameter side, and thelower sheet-fitting plate is connected to the upper end surface of thedriving shaft 25.

Thus, in accordance with the present invention, the flexible containeris rotated in synchronism with the cooling hollow body due to africtional force produced between the upper surface of the coolinghollow body and the lower sheet portion of the flexible container andthe flexible container can follow the shape of food products, wherebythey are entirely covered by the flexible container so that they aresufficiently cooled. Further, there greatly reduces possibility of thedamage of the flexible conainer owing to an excessive frictional forceapplied thereto and occurrence of wrinkles and twisting caused in theflexible container.

We claim:
 1. A freezing apparatus which comprises;a cooling hollow bodyadapted to receive thereon products to be frozen and adapted to bedriven for rotation; a flexible container made of a flexible sheetmaterial which is arranged on the upper surface of said cooling hollowbody so as to cover said products placed on said upper surface; a coldbrine circulating path including the hollow portion of said coolinghollow body and the interior of said flexible container which aremutually communicated to feed cold brine; an adapter means comprising aplurality of adapters which are attached to the outer periphery of saidflexible container; and a guide means provided around the outerperiphery of said flexible container to slidably support said adapters,whereby said flexible container is moved synchronously with said coolinghollow body due to a frictional force resulted between said flexiblecontainer and said cooling hollow body.
 2. The freezing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein said guide means is made of a flexibleannular body.
 3. The freezing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein anoverflow tube is provided to adjust the surface level of the cold brinein said flexible container.
 4. The freezing apparatus according to claim1, wherein said flexible container is an annular tube.
 5. The freezingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein said adapters are attached tothe outer periphery of the flexible container at equal intervals.
 6. Thefreezing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cold brinecirculating path includes a heat exchanger.
 7. The freezing apparatusaccording to claim 1, which further comprises a lifting means forlifting a part of said guide means in a curved form.
 8. The freezingapparatus according to claim 7, said lifting means is provided at theside of the inlet portion of the apparatus and an open space for puttingand removing food products is formed between the upper surface of thecooling hollow body and said flexible container by lifting a part ofsaid flexible container at said inlet portion.
 9. The freezing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein each of said adapters has a pair ofrotatable rollers which are in contact with and capable of revolvingalong the both sides of said guide means.
 10. The freezing apparatusaccording to claim 1, which further comprises an integration means whichmoves the upper part of said flexible container with the lower part incontact with said cooling hollow body.
 11. The freezing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein said cold brine circulating path includesa brine returnng path which communicates with said cooling hollow bodyand flexible container to return the cold brine to a brine tank.
 12. Thefreezing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a bearing forsupporting the shaft of said cooling hollow body is constituted by aplurality of bearing housings each of which is splittable in the axialdirection and is detachably connected onto the shaft.
 13. The freezingapparatus according to claim 12, wherein said cold brine circulatingpath comprises a cold brine feeding conduit provided in said shaft ofthe cooling hollow body so as to communicate the hollow portion of thecooling hollow body with the interior of said flexible container. 14.The freezing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cooling hollowbody is provided therein with a plurality of flow-regulating platesarranged in the radial direction to form a zig-zag flow path for thecold brine, and said zig-zag flow path is communicated with the interiorof said flexible container.
 15. The freezing apparatus according toclaim 14, wherein at least one cold brine introducing port and coldbrine discharging port are respectively formed in the bottom of thehollow portion of the cooling hollow body at its inner diameter side.16. The freezing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said coldbrine introducing port is formed at a position in alignment with one ofsaid flow-regulating plates whose outer end is connected to the innerwall of the outer circumferential wall and whose other end is free sothat the cold brine fed through the cold brine introducing port isdivided to flow both sides of said flow-regulating plate.
 17. Thefreezing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said cold brineintroducing port and said cold brine discharging port are formedopposing at both sides of a separating plate in the hollow portion ofsaid cooling hollow body.
 18. The freezing apparatus according to claim14, wherein a by-pass is formed in said flow-regulating plates at aposition where the outer end of said flow-regulating plates radiallyextending is connected to the inner surface of the outer circumferentialwall of said cooling hollow body.
 19. The freezing apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein at least lower sheet portion of said flexiblecontainer is constituted by plural sheets of cloth having a sectorialshape which are connected in an annular form so that the network of saidconnected sheets of cloth is coincidence with each other, and an elasticsheet material covering said connected cloth in one piece.
 20. Thefreezing apparatus according to claim .[.19.]. .Iadd.1.Iaddend., wherein.[.the upper sheet portion of.]. said flexible container .[.is.]..Iadd.includes an upper sheet portion .Iaddend.constituted by pluralsheets of cloth in .Iadd.at least .Iaddend.a semi-circular form .[.or acircular form.]. in which .[.the network.]. .Iadd.networks .Iaddend.of.[.them is.]. .Iadd.threads in all of the plural sheets have.Iaddend.the same .Iadd.orientation.Iaddend., and an elastic sheetmaterial covering said sheets of cloth .[.in one.]. .Iadd.to form theupper sheet portion as a single .Iaddend.piece.